FR-S vs. Used G37 Coupe

[D87]

Bringing this thread back from the recent past...

So I'm sort of in the same boat. I currently own a 2003 G35 which only has 60K. I just sold my DD so now I'm commuting in the G. Now if you're familiar with this model year, the interior isn't all that - plenty of hard plastics abound and squeaks and rattles have snuck up on the almost-10-year-old car. Mileage is decent on the highway - I can get ~25mpg if I keep it at 65mph with cruise control. Don't ask me about city mileage because it will make your eyes fall out.

Contemplating what I'll lose and what I'll gain if I go for the BRZ: Power loss, squeak-free chassis, new car smell, warranty, better tech, audio controls on steering wheel (yes I actually WANT that lol), gas mileage. I still wonder which is a "better" car - a 10-year-old "sport-luxury" or a brand-spankin' new "entry" coupe from this decade?

I've never owned a brand new car before in my life, and I'd like to, before December 21, 2012, so second model year is out of the question - unless we're all still here on the 22nd.

Input people! I need input!

[thill]

Originally Posted by D87

Bringing this thread back from the recent past...

So I'm sort of in the same boat. I currently own a 2003 G35 which only has 60K. I just sold my DD so now I'm commuting in the G. Now if you're familiar with this model year, the interior isn't all that - plenty of hard plastics abound and squeaks and rattles have snuck up on the almost-10-year-old car. Mileage is decent on the highway - I can get ~25mpg if I keep it at 65mph with cruise control. Don't ask me about city mileage because it will make your eyes fall out.

Contemplating what I'll lose and what I'll gain if I go for the BRZ: Power loss, squeak-free chassis, new car smell, warranty, better tech, audio controls on steering wheel (yes I actually WANT that lol), gas mileage. I still wonder which is a "better" car - a 10-year-old "sport-luxury" or a brand-spankin' new "entry" coupe from this decade?

I've never owned a brand new car before in my life, and I'd like to, before December 21, 2012, so second model year is out of the question - unless we're all still here on the 22nd.

Input people! I need input!

I would not trust others opinions. You need to drive both cars back to back on extended test drives. Your opinion is the only that really matters at the end of the day.

[SUB-FT86]

I agree with Thill 100%.

[D87]

Originally Posted by thill

I would not trust others opinions. You need to drive both cars back to back on extended test drives. Your opinion is the only that really matters at the end of the day.

Yep, I'm gonna do that. BUT...

I still want to know what other people think: Does a 10-year old "luxury-ish" car hold its own compared to a new, "basic" model? I mean with technology advancing the way that it is, I'm thinking they can get the gaps on the panels tighter, parts are designed to last longer, etc. I mean my factory NAV in the G still has a little stick for me to point the cursor to the individual letters to spell out my destination! (For those of you that don't understand, this means it isn't a touch screen) Honestly, the most awesome part of the BRZ I think, is the location of that oil filter! This is the part where I tell you I had to get special ramps just so I can roll the G to change the oil!

OR: Is this one of those cases where "They don't make them like this anymore" and I should just keep the G? I've been thinking about this for two years while I watched the FT86's development.

[Turbowned]

Pull up 30+ positive magazine articles and videos for the G and maybe I'll say it's a worthwhile comparison.

Otherwise, get the BRZ.

I'm a Nissan enthusiast. I'm a Z owner. I loved the looks of the G35 and G37; thought "it must be such a great car!" Then I made the mistake of driving one. Hated it! Same thing happened when I drove the 370Z. I was giddy as-can-be when I saw the ad for the new Z coming January 2009. I waited 3 years before I finally drove one, and I was so disappointed.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Turbowned

....I'm a Nissan enthusiast. I'm a Z owner. I loved the looks of the G35 and G37; thought "it must be such a great car!" Then I made the mistake of driving one. Hated it! Same thing happened when I drove the 370Z. I was giddy as-can-be when I saw the ad for the new Z coming January 2009. I waited 3 years before I finally drove one, and I was so disappointed.

I loved the old Z's (the original 240 and that ilk), the 3 series, not so much, mostly just from a looks prospective.

Honestly when I first saw the 86, it reminded me more of a "retro" 240Z than it did anything Toyota has ever built.

[thill]

Originally Posted by D87

Yep, I'm gonna do that. BUT...

I still want to know what other people think: Does a 10-year old "luxury-ish" car hold its own compared to a new, "basic" model? I mean with technology advancing the way that it is, I'm thinking they can get the gaps on the panels tighter, parts are designed to last longer, etc. I mean my factory NAV in the G still has a little stick for me to point the cursor to the individual letters to spell out my destination! (For those of you that don't understand, this means it isn't a touch screen) Honestly, the most awesome part of the BRZ I think, is the location of that oil filter! This is the part where I tell you I had to get special ramps just so I can roll the G to change the oil!

OR: Is this one of those cases where "They don't make them like this anymore" and I should just keep the G? I've been thinking about this for two years while I watched the FT86's development.

Well the drive will confirm that. Me? I would probably go for the newer car. But these are too different cars.

I would also tell you to drive everything you can as well that are in the same price range as the BRZ then decide:
- VW GTI
- Hyundai Genesis Coupe
- Upcoming Ford Focus ST
- Ford Mustang V6 w performance pack
- Mazda Speed3
- Mini Cooper S
etc

Assuming you have not already

When you drive the right car for you, you will know

Also decide what your priorities are. Is it handling over acceleration? Are you willing to go with a car that has lesser interior features and amenities over one that does? Warranty? Custom mods? Gas mileage?

I know for me I focused on the following:
- Acceleration
- Handling/suspension
- Exterior Styling
- Interior quality and amenities
- Road noise
- Warranty
- Gas mileage
- Reliability

As I drove cars, I would rate each one. Some areas for me (handling and acceleration) were more important than say gas mileage.

[D87]

Originally Posted by Turbowned

Pull up 30+ positive magazine articles and videos for the G and maybe I'll say it's a worthwhile comparison.

Otherwise, get the BRZ.

I'm a Nissan enthusiast. I'm a Z owner. I loved the looks of the G35 and G37; thought "it must be such a great car!" Then I made the mistake of driving one. Hated it! Same thing happened when I drove the 370Z. I was giddy as-can-be when I saw the ad for the new Z coming January 2009. I waited 3 years before I finally drove one, and I was so disappointed.

What was disappointing? Power? Fit and finish? Weight?

My first car was a Nissan Sentra, then a 1993 Sentra SE-R (which is about the same weight as the BRZ but only had 140hp, but boy did I have a lot of fun in that sucker!), then the G35 - so I guess you can say I'm a Nissan enthusiast too.

Hey did you forget all the praise the automotive world gave the G35/350Z when it first came out. Everyone DID love it, in fact, so much that it was the Motor Trend COTY! It really brought Infiniti back into relevancy after meager offerings of the i30, G20, etc.

[D87]

Originally Posted by thill

Well the drive will confirm that. Me? I would probably go for the newer car. But these are too different cars.

I would also tell you to drive everything you can as well that are in the same price range as the BRZ then decide:
- VW GTI
- Hyundai Genesis Coupe
- Upcoming Ford Focus ST
- Ford Mustang V6 w performance pack
- Mazda Speed3
- Mini Cooper S
etc

Assuming you have not already

When you drive the right car for you, you will know

Also decide what your priorities are. Is it handling over acceleration? Are you willing to go with a car that has lesser interior features and amenities over one that does? Warranty? Custom mods? Gas mileage?

I know for me I focused on the following:
- Acceleration
- Handling/suspension
- Exterior Styling
- Interior quality and amenities
- Road noise
- Warranty
- Gas mileage
- Reliability

As I drove cars, I would rate each one. Some areas for me (handling and acceleration) were more important than say gas mileage.

Nicely put here. I just don't want to end up buying the car, driving it to work/play and sit there thinking "Dang I miss my wheel buttons" or "Hmm... I think the G had less road noise".

Wards's lauded, proven reliable VQ engine vs. New Subaru engine
280hp vs 200hp but 3500lbs vs. 2800lbs
Touch screen NAV versus STUPID LITTLE STICK CURSOR
25mpg vs. 35mpg

ARG! This is really painful sometimes....

[thill]

Originally Posted by D87

Nicely put here. I just don't want to end up buying the car, driving it to work/play and sit there thinking "Dang I miss my wheel buttons" or "Hmm... I think the G had less road noise".

Wards's lauded, proven reliable VQ engine vs. New Subaru engine
280hp vs 200hp but 3500lbs vs. 2800lbs
Touch screen NAV versus STUPID LITTLE STICK CURSOR
25mpg vs. 35mpg

ARG! This is really painful sometimes....

If the Nissan NAV bugs you that much, can't you just replace it with an aftermarket touchscreen nav?

Aside from that, I think the difference between the FR-S/BRZ and Infiniti is going to be whether or not you like that brute power that will most likely be less forgiving around turns, or whether you want the better handling car that you can throw into turns but will not have the power and torque the other car has.

For me, I can see both sides of the argument. Power, to me, is fun too

It will just come down to what you like driving more.

[D87]

Originally Posted by thill

If the Nissan NAV bugs you that much, can't you just replace it with an aftermarket touchscreen nav?

Aside from that, I think the difference between the FR-S/BRZ and Infiniti is going to be whether or not you like that brute power that will most likely be less forgiving around turns, or whether you want the better handling car that you can throw into turns but will not have the power and torque the other car has.

For me, I can see both sides of the argument. Power, to me, is fun too

It will just come down to what you like driving more.

Test drive here I come! I was just thinking someone would chime in "Hey yeah, buy a new car because anything made within the last three years will be leaps and bounds over a 10-year old car" - but it sounds like that may not be the case.

Little story: My friend gets into my car as we're heading to Dave & Buster's but don't know exactly how to get there. So he starts "programming" my NAV by pressing hard on the screen as my eyes literally fall out of their sockets: "Hey your touch screen isn't working..."

[Turbowned]

Originally Posted by Dadhawk

I loved the old Z's (the original 240 and that ilk), the 3 series, not so much, mostly just from a looks prospective.

Honestly when I first saw the 86, it reminded me more of a "retro" 240Z than it did anything Toyota has ever built.

I wholly agree. I might actually be able to let go of my 240Z after buying the BRZ. (not my Z below)

Originally Posted by D87

What was disappointing? Power? Fit and finish? Weight?

My first car was a Nissan Sentra, then a 1993 Sentra SE-R (which is about the same weight as the BRZ but only had 140hp, but boy did I have a lot of fun in that sucker!), then the G35 - so I guess you can say I'm a Nissan enthusiast too.

Hey did you forget all the praise the automotive world gave the G35/350Z when it first came out. Everyone DID love it, in fact, so much that it was the Motor Trend COTY! It really brought Infiniti back into relevancy after meager offerings of the i30, G20, etc.

For the G37, it was the weight, the coarseness of the engine (sounds like a truck motor and drowns out everything in the cabin after 5k rpm), the clunkiness of the gearbox, the mediocre fit-and-finish and quality of interior plastics, and a new one comes dangerously close in price to an Audi S4, which IMO is 10x the car. Similar was the Z, though more expected given it starts at about $15k less than a G37S. I haven't driven a 350Z or G35 but I think they're getting a little long in the tooth, styling-wise. I also can't drive a car that gets roughly 20mpg when I do over 18,000mi/yr.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by Turbowned

I wholly agree. I might actually be able to let go of my 240Z after buying the BRZ. (not my Z below)

Beautiful! I can't imagine letting go of that Z without a lot of zeroes involved in the check.

[Turbowned]

There was once a guy at a car show who put a sign on his 240Z stating " For sale: $1,000,001. Because I wouldn't sell my Z for a million bucks"